WWE Vintage Collection Report: October 13th 2011
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
This week, (belatedly on my part) we start the first of a two part series looking back at some of wrestling’s “most dynamic duos, turned ferocious foes.”
A David vs Goliath type video opens the show previewing a No Holds Barred bout between Shawn Michaels and Diesel from 1996. That’s our Main Event sorted. Let’s begin!
WCW Road Wild: August 8th 1998
Meng vs The Barbarian w/Jimmy Hart
The defunct Heenan Family explode! We pick things up as Meng unleashes a crescent kick. Barbarian gives his former partner a belly-to-belly suplex from the top rope. Meng comes back with a powerslam. Hart causes a distraction allowing Barbarian to attack. Both exchange chops and headbutts. Barbarian pulls Meng outside to send him head first into the ringsteps. Back inside, Barbarian signals for a big boot, but Meng pops up and applies the Tongan death grip for the 1-2-3. After the bell, Hugh Morrus runs in to lead a three man beatdown on Meng. Hart lands a shot from the top rope, while Morrus also nails the No Laughing Matter moonsault. Hacksaw Jim Duggan scares everyone off with his 2x4 and Meng shows his gratitude by simply walking off. Winner: MENG.
WCW WrestleWar: February 24th 1991
WCW Tag Team Titles: Doom w/Teddy Long vs The Fabulous Freebirds w/Diamond Dallas Page & Big Daddy Dink
Two rings are set up side by side for War Games later in the night. Neither team were fan favourites at this point in time. The Doom tandem of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed had been teasing dissension in the weeks prior. DDP is nothing more than a lackey at this point, while Dink is the former Oliver Humperdink, in his new guise as a biker. The crowd chants “Freebirds suck” at the beginning. Simmons powers down Michael Hayes to start, sending him into several corners and catching him with a spinebuster. Hayes gets in an elbow smash and running bulldog, but Simmons comes back to powerslam both Freebirds. Dink tells the challengers to "calm down" during a consultation on the outside. Reed blocks a Jimmy Garvin hiptoss and hits a clothesline. Reed press slams Hayes and has Garvin up, but Hayes drills Reed with a punch, causing Garvin to fall on top. Reed quickly resumes control with a backbreaker.
Doom work over Garvin, until the Freebird hits a desperation DDT on Reed. Simmons enters to hit another spinebuster and powerslam, with Hayes breaking up both pin attempts. Long tosses Reed some brass knux, but Simmons inadvertently gets wiped out after Hayes moves out of the way. As Hayes tangles with Reed, Dink places Garvin on top of Simmons for the 1-2-3. New Champions! After the bell, Simmons shoves Long to the mat, prompting Reed to wipe out Simmons once more with the knux. Winners: THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS.
WCW Superbrawl I: May 19th 1991
Steel Cage Match: Ron Simmons vs Butch Reed
Teddy Long is suspended above the ring in a separate cage to stop him from interfering. Holla Playa! We join the match with Simmons busted open and in trouble. The crowd willl Simmons out of a chinlock by chanting “go Ron go.” Reed stays on top with a swinging neckbreaker and flying tackle from the top rope. Reed tries a splash, but Simmons gets his knees up. Simmons fires up, only to run into a high knee. Both men clothesline each other at the same time. Long throws down a chain from the rafters. Simmons crawls towards it, with Reed quickly cutting him off. Reed grabs the chain, takes a swing, but Simmons ducks a roundhouse full of steel and delivers a quick spinebuster. 1-2-3. Reed is doomed to defeat. Damn! Winner: RON SIMMONS.
A second video package on Shawn Michaels and Diesel airs, highlighting their different paths to the WWF title. When the friendship ended at the 1996 Royal Rumble, Diesel became a “seven foot punk with a chip on his shoulder.” Michaels says the Kliq will dance over Diesel when he is defeated, while Diesel promises a surprise for all the Kliqsters, as he digs it the most when it’s live.
WWF In Your House 7 – Good Friends, Better Enemies: April 28th 1996
No Holds Barred – WWF Title: Shawn Michaels w/Jose Lothario vs Diesel
Michaels is all business, discarding his title and rushing the ring to attack Big Daddy Cool. Diesel slows Michaels down with a knee. Michaels floats over a corner charge, dropkicks Diesel through the ropes, then lands a baseball slide, quickly followed by a top rope moonsault on the floor. Michaels grabs one of Hugo Savinovich’s boots from the Spanish Announce table to use as a weapon. Diesel reverses an irish whip to send Michaels upside down in the corner, before quickly sledging him off the apron and into the guardrail. Diesel yells at the fans to “shut the fuck up.” Michaels gets pulled in for a short arm clothesline, then dropped snake eyes style in the corner. Diesel works over Michaels in the corner with kneelifts, taunting Lothario on the outside after every shot. Diesel continues the onslaught with a big sidewalk slam.
Michaels fights out of a chinlock/head vice and refuses to stay down, despite Diesel repeatedly punching him to the mat. Diesel calls for a jackknife on the floor, but opts to powerbomb Michaels through the WWF announce table instead. Diesel poses with the world title in the ring. Vince McMahon tells Michaels to “let it be over,” but a stubborn Michaels pulls himself up and blinds Diesel with a fire extinguisher. Michaels connects with a flying forearm, then grabs a chair (albeit one tangled up with Jerry Lawler’s headset.) Michaels waffles Diesel with several shots. Diesel shuts down Michaels once more by clubbing out of a backbodydrop attempt, then planting the champion with a big boot.
Michaels manages to counter a second jackknife in mid-air by raining down a flurry of punches and, using the momentum to fall down on top of Diesel. Michaels lands an elbow from the top rope, tunes up the band, but Diesel blocks Sweet Chin Music by grabbing Michaels’ foot and spinning him round into a clothesline. Diesel clotheslines Michaels over the top rope and press slams him into the guardrail. Diesel separates the guardrail and randomly grabs ex-wrestler Mad Dog Vachon by the throat, pulling off his prosthetic leg (caused by an automobile accident) in the process. Michaels lands a low blow to take possession of Vachon’s leg and knocks Diesel loopy with it. Sweet Chin Music quickly follows and Michaels retains his title after a wildly entertaining and hard fought scrap. With Diesel on his way out of the company alongside fellow Kliqster Razor Ramon, the two would reconcile their differences just weeks later during the infamous Curtain Call incident at Madison Square Garden. Winner: SHAWN MICHAELS.
This was an encouraging start to the series with some good short bouts and a cracking Main Event.
Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
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